Oxford brush fire poses challenges

OXFORD — A fire that broke out Monday afternoon deep in woods near the Clara Barton School proved to be a time-consuming and arduous problem for firefighters.

The terrain is "better suited for mountain goats than firefighters," Oxford Fire Chief Sheri Bemis said. She said first responders had to carry hoses through the forest for more than 1,000 yards along sometimes steep inclines.

There were no injuries and no property damage, the chief said. She added that the school was never at risk.

By about 4:30 p.m., hours after the fire began, new lines of firefighters continued to trudge into the forest behind a single-story home on Shady Lane, which was the closet access point to the blaze. Chief Bemis said it did not take long to get control of the fire, but flames continued to flare up.

John Hollows, a state firefighter based in the Douglas State Forest district, said it has been a slow year for brush fires because of fairly regular, intermittent rain. He said he expects brush fires to become more common in the coming months.

Engines responded from Webster, Leicester, Charlton and Auburn, with support from Sutton, Leicester and Dudley.